Barnet Lib Dems slam the cut in Concessionary Fares- Londoners now need to fork out more for the Freedom pass

8.18.20pm GMT Sat 7th Nov 2009

Caroline Pidgeon, Cllr Sean Brennan, Cllr Ruth Domby (Sutton) and Tom Brake MP opposing cuts to the Freedom Pass

Barnet Lib Dems have reacted angrily to news that the concessionary fares scheme in London will be cut by £29m this coming year.

It is yet another clear sign that Gordon Brown has given up on London. Choosing to sacrifice Capital seats for marginals elsewhere in the country.

London taxpayers have always paid for the freedom pass that covers pensioner travel on all forms of transport. But when the Government introduced the national free bus scheme they agreed to contribute to the cost and cover journeys made by tourists and neighbours.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Local Government in London Cllr Sean Brennan said: "This is a real cut for London. Council Tax payers will now have to dig deep and find the money to pay extra for the freedom pass. Whilst the rest of the country gets their scheme paid for by the Government London tax payers will have to pay two-thirds of the cost of giving our pensioners and visitors to London the transport they need.

"It is clear the Prime Minister has given up on London. London is the only major urban area to get a cut in the funding for elderly and disabled people and the Government is relying on London Council Tax payers to foot a bill they cover everywhere else in the country."

At Prime Minister's Question Time last Wednesday Tom Brake MP pushed the Prime Minister on the Council Tax increase that would be needed to cover the shortfall.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson branded this a double whammy for Londoners, she said:

"After Boris Johnson's decision to hike bus fares by 20% Londoners now face a double whammy with this savage cut in funding for the Freedom Pass.

"Hard up London council taxpayers, who are already facing a steep rise in fares, will now have to pay even more in their council tax to maintain London's Freedom Pass."

"This is an outrageous proposal by the Labour Government who are insulting London's pensioners, disabled people, as well as council taxpayers across the capital."

You can join the Lib Dem London wide campaign by signing the petition www.ourcampaign.org.uk/freedompass